Wouldn't It Be Nice
Updated: 12/10/2025, 9:10:27 PM Wikipedia source
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys and the opening track from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. Written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, and Mike Love, it is distinguished for its sophisticated Wall of Sound–style arrangement and refined vocal performances, and is regarded among the band's finest songs. With its juxtaposition of joyous-sounding music and melancholic lyrics, it is considered a formative work of power pop, and with respect to musical innovation, progressive pop. The song may have been inspired by Wilson's infatuation for his sister-in-law. Lyrically, the song describes a young couple who feel empowered by their relationship and fantasize about the romantic freedom they would earn once married to each other. Like the other tracks on Pet Sounds, it subverted listeners' expectations, as past Beach Boys songs had normally celebrated superficial conceits such as material possessions and casual flings. Wilson produced the record between January and April 1966 with his band and 16 studio musicians who variously played drums, timpani, glockenspiel, trumpet, saxophones, accordions, guitars, pianos, and upright bass. The harp-like instrument heard in the introduction is a 12-string mando-guitar plugged directly into the recording console. One section of the song engages in a ritardando, a device that is rarely used in pop music. The band struggled to sing the multiple vocal parts to Wilson's satisfaction, and the song ultimately took longer to record than any other track on the album. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" was released as a single in July and peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has occasionally appeared in the soundtracks of films such as the 1989 documentary Roger & Me, where it was used to underscore visuals of economic devastation.
Infobox
B-side
"God Only Knows"
Released
July 18, 1966 (1966-07-18)
Recorded
January 22 – April 1966
Studio
Gold Star and Columbia, Hollywood
Genre
Rock power pop progressive pop
Length
2:33
Label
Capitol
Songwriters
Brian WilsonTony AsherMike Love
Producer
Brian Wilson
Tables
1966 weekly chart performance for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" · Charts › Weekly charts
Australia Go-Set National Top 40
Australia Go-Set National Top 40
Chart (1966)
Australia Go-Set National Top 40
Peakposition
2
Canada RPM Top Singles
Canada RPM Top Singles
Chart (1966)
Canada RPM Top Singles
Peakposition
4
New Zealand Singles Chart
New Zealand Singles Chart
Chart (1966)
New Zealand Singles Chart
Peakposition
12
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1966)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
8
US Cash Box Top 100
US Cash Box Top 100
Chart (1966)
US Cash Box Top 100
Peakposition
7
US Record World
US Record World
Chart (1966)
US Record World
Peakposition
5
| Chart (1966) | Peakposition |
| Australia Go-Set National Top 40 | 2 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 4 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 12 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 7 |
| US Record World | 5 |
1975 weekly chart performance for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" · Charts › Weekly charts
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100
Chart (1975)
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100
Peakposition
103
| Chart (1975) | Peakposition |
| US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 | 103 |
1990 weekly chart performance for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" · Charts › Weekly charts
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (1990)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peakposition
58
| Chart (1990) | Peakposition |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 58 |
2025 weekly chart performance for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" · Charts › Weekly charts
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Chart (2025)
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Peakposition
14
| Chart (2025) | Peakposition |
| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan) | 14 |
1966 year-end chart performance for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" · Charts › Year-end charts
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)
Chart (1966)
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)
Rank
101
| Chart (1966) | Rank |
| US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) | 101 |
Certifications for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" · Certifications
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- The same album included "Don't Hurt My Little Sister", another song inspired by Wilson's infatuation with his sister-in-
- The same key change occurs in "Let's Go Away for Awhile", another Wilson composition from Pet Sounds.
- Some sources mistake this as a harp. It is actually a mando-guitar, a specialized electric 12-string guitar.
- Comic book artist Ty Templeton said that the song "made me sob like a baby for years because of Andy's relationship to t
- Adams 2011, p. 41.
- National Reviewhttps://web.archive.org/web/20070202130538/http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=NzZkNDU5MmViNzVjNzkzMDE3NzNlN2MyZjRjYTk4YjE=
- Chabon, Michaelhttps://archive.today/20130411092844/http://michaelchabon.com/uncollected/musical/tragic-magic/
- American Songwriterhttps://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-the-beach-boys-wouldnt-it-be-nice/
- Clevelandhttps://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2018/02/250_greatest_songs_by_rock_rol_3.html
- Badman 2004, p. 111.
- Dillon 2012, p. 104.
- Lambert 2007, pp. 233–234.
- Kent 2009, p. 18.
- Carlin 2006, p. 76.
- Granata 2003, pp. 54, 91.
- Granata 2003, p. 91.
- Kent 2009, pp. 17–18.
- Dillon 2012, p. 105.
- Carlin 2006, p. 278.
- "Tony Asher Interview"https://web.archive.org/web/20050310140642/http://www.surfermoon.com/interviews/asher.html
- "Pet Sounds Track Notes"http://www.bradelliott.com/writings/ps2.html
- The Pet Sounds Sessionshttp://albumlinernotes.com/Tony_Asher_Interview.html
- Granata 2003, p. 90.
- Lambert 2007, p. 234.
- "Pet Sounds Track Notes"http://www.bradelliott.com/writings/ps2.html
- NY Radio Archivehttp://www.nyradioarchive.com/audio/WNEWFM_19771103_FornWils_KT.mp3
- The Pet Sounds Sessionshttp://albumlinernotes.com/Interview_w_Brian_Wilson.html
- Kent 2009, p. 17.
- PopMattershttps://www.popmatters.com/160169-when-i-grow-up-to-be-a-man-2495839691.html
- AllMusichttps://web.archive.org/web/20120509154652/http://www.allmusic.com/song/you-still-believe-in-me-t2827562
- "'Pet Sounds' On The Road: Revisiting The Sad Genius Of Brian Wilson"http://www.wbur.org/artery/2016/06/14/pet-sounds-brian-wilson
- Adams 2011, p. 40.
- Adams 2011, pp. 40–41.
- Bassicshttp://www.intimateaudio.com/brian_wilson_interview.html
- Lambert 2007, pp. 227, 234.
- Lambert 2007, p. 227.
- Dillon 2012, p. 110.
- Granata 2003, pp. 145, 149.
- Dillon 2012, p. 106.
- beachboysarchives.comhttp://www.beachboysarchives.com/page10
- Granata 2003, p. 145.
- The Pet Sounds Sessionshttp://albumlinernotes.com/Recording_Mixing_Notes.html
- Granata 2003, pp. 145–147.
- The foundations of rock: from "Blue suede shoes" to "Suite : Judy blue eyes"
- The Pet Sounds Sessionshttp://www.albumlinernotes.com/Lyle_Ritz.html
- Dillon 2012, p. 109.
- The Pet Sounds Sessionshttp://albumlinernotes.com/Comments_by_Carl_Wilson.html
- Granata 2003, pp. 168, 172.
- Love 2016, p. 131.
- Badman 2004, p. 126.
- Granata 2003, p. 168.
- albumlinernoteshttp://albumlinernotes.com/Comments_Bruce_Johnston.html
- Badman 2004, p. 117.
- Badman 2004, p. 120.
- Badman 2004, pp. 120, 122.
- Granata 2003, p. 172.
- Granata 2003, pp. 179–180.
- Granata 2003, p. 223.
- Granata 2003, pp. 223–224.
- Badman 2004, p. 134.
- Badman 2004, p. 142.
- Badman 2004, pp. 142, 144.
- Badman 2004, p. 145.
- Badman 2004, p. 156.
- Record Mirrorhttp://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-beach-boys-pet-sounds-capitol
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=6xAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PT1
- Cash Boxhttps://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-07-16.pdf
- Dillon 2012, pp. 105–106.
- American Songwriterhttps://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-the-beach-boys-wouldnt-it-be-nice/
- Pitchforkhttps://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/6405-the-200-greatest-songs-of-the-1960s/?page=10
- Popdosehttp://popdose.com/the-popdose-100-our-favorite-singles-of-the-last-50-years/
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/beach-boys-wouldnt-it-be-nice-1225041/
- cleveland.comhttp://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/05/50_greatest_album-opening_song.html#42
- albumlinernoteshttp://albumlinernotes.com/Paul_McCartney_Comments.html
- Dillon 2012, pp. 107, 110.
- Dillon 2012, p. 108.
- Under the Radarhttp://undertheradarmag.com/blog/reissued_and_revisited_alex_chilton
- Michigan Livehttps://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/2011/08/film_critic_labels_michael_moo.html
- Still Cruisin'http://albumlinernotes.com/Still_Cruisin_.html
- Lambert 2016, pp. 20–21.
- Lambert 2016, p. 20.
- Lambert 2016, pp. 20, 30.
- ScreenRanthttps://screenrant.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-soundtrack-songs-guide/
- Dillon 2012, p. 107.
- Badman 2004, p. 289.
- Badman 2004, p. 144.
- Tropicalglen.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20150530052952/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19660910.html
- The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954-1982
- The Comparison Book
- Billboard Japanhttps://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2025&month=06&day=23
- Pop Annual
- "New Zealand single certifications – The Beach Boys – Wouldn't It Be Nice"https://www.radioscope.co.nz/2024/00/00/single-cert-search/
- "British single certifications – Beach Boys – Wouldn't It Be Nice"https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/14970-1917-1